Support group for caregivers meets in Killingworth

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, June 21, 2011

KILLINGWORTH -- Cynthia L. Sarris believes that everyone needs someone to talk to, including caregivers. That's why she created the caregiver support group.

Sarris started the support group last November after noticing a need for a place where caregivers could go and talk about their "stresses," she said. The group meets every Wednesday at noon in the Congregational Church on Route 81.

Being a caregiver is a lot of work and responsibility, Sarris said.

"This group provides the outlet that caregivers need to relieve some of the pressure they're possibly feeling." Sarris said.

Sally Garuti, a member of the support group, told Sarris that the group makes her feel normal, and like she's a part of a family, Sarris said.

Garuti took care of her 108-year-old mother in-law until she died, and she's now caring for her aunt, who lives in a nursing home, she said. Garuti's husband is deceased, and her children are grown with families of their own, she said.

"I had no one to talk to," Garuti said. "I felt alone until the group."

Talking is a major component of the group, Sarris said. The idea is for Garuti and other caregivers to come together to talk about their bottled-up emotions without feeling guilty, or being judged, Sarris said.

Garuti said she has a good relationship with her kids, but she couldn't see herself talking to them like she talks to the group.

"I like that no one in the group knew me before this," Garuti said. "It made it so much easier to talk."

Sarris said she believes there are more people that want to join the group but are uncomfortable talking in front of people they know. She said she has thought about offering another support group outside of the Killingworth area.

"Sometimes it's easier talking to a complete stranger," Sarris said.

Garuti was hesitant about joining the group when Sarris invited her, because she didn't know what she would get out of the group, she said. Garuti is younger than the other caregivers that attend the discussions, and she's the only one without her spouse.

"My situation is different than theirs," she said. "I didn't think I had anything in common with them."

The size of the group helped Garuti let go of her initial insecurities, she said.

"There are only 5 of us, which makes it easier for us to open up," she said.

Sarris said the group has also helped her. After she started the support group, her father was diagnosed with stage for lung cancer, she said. Sarris, a full-time mother, wife, and licensed clinical social worker said, "It's been tough."

Sarris said she just started talking about her father's illness last week.

"They've been really supportive," she said.

"We're all here for each other," Garuti said.

Jonathan Burton can be reach by email at jburton@middletownpress.com. Text MIDNEWS to 22700 to get news alerts directly to your cell phone. Standard messaging and data rates apply.